By Peter Atsiaya
IN WESTERN, KENYA: Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi returned to Western Province to secure his turf a week after former ally Prime Minister Raila Odinga made forays there.
Mudavadi has chosen to cover Bungoma, Kakamega, Vihiga and Kakamega counties that Raila visited with Luhya MPs still in ODM.
Mudavadi completes his extensive tour today with rallies in Butere-Mumias. Both leaders have been unable to make inroads in Bungoma County where Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa enjoys support.
But ODM and Ford-Kenya MPs have recently expressed interest in a pre-election pact.
Ford Kenya leader and Trade Minister Moses Wetangula and Forestry Minister and Kwanza MP Noah Wekesa have indicated the two parties can work together.
On his part, Mudavadi has been convincing ODM MPs like Webuye’s Alfred Sambu, who is from Bungoma County, to support him.
He is hoping former minister Mukhisa Kituyi will help get him support in Bungoma.Raila is using Internal Security assistant minister Alfred Khangati, who also worked in his office, to entice Bungoma.
The Kanduyi MP will have to push hard to get ODM support because Wamalwa and Wetangula are influential. To avoid annoying Mudavadi’s supporters, Raila has avoided attacking him and instead casting him as “a good friend” and his “political student.”
Last week, Raila campaigned in Mt Elgon, Lugari, Webuye, Malava, Lurambi and Shianda before joining his supporters in Bukura for a homecoming party for Reuben Nyangweso, who won the recent civic by-elections on an ODM ticket.
Raila also met Tachoni elders led by former Cabinet minister Burudi Nabwera, who assured him of their support. The PM used the meetings to woo Dr Wekesa when the minister attended his meetings.
At a rally at Muliro Grounds in Webuye, Wekesa said he was there to show Ford-Kenya’s solidarity with the premier.
“I am here because Ford-K is planning to work with Raila,” he said.
A week later, Mudavadi has taken his campaigns to the region to wash away the gains the PM made.
“Mudavadi cannot avoid consolidating home support and that is why we are here,” said Boni Khalwale, a confidant of the DPM.
He added: “We are not targeting Raila by campaigning in the region because the PM has no support here to worry us.” Vihiga MP Yussuf Chanzu said those who brand Mudavadi as a tribal leader for campaigning in Western are wrong as charity begins at home.
A week later, Mudavadi has taken his campaigns to the region to wash away the gains the PM made.
“Mudavadi cannot avoid consolidating home support and that is why we are here,” said Boni Khalwale, a confidant of the DPM.
He added: “We are not targeting Raila by campaigning in the region because the PM has no support here to worry us.” Vihiga MP Yussuf Chanzu said those who brand Mudavadi as a tribal leader for campaigning in Western are wrong as charity begins at home.
“How can Mudavadi attract support from other regions when in his home turf people are not with him,” asked Chanzu. That was the reason they stepped up campaigns in the region.
But leaders supporting Raila remained optimistic the PM would win. Local Government Minister Paul Otuoma insists there is no vacuum in Western following the departure of Mudavadi from ODM.
“The impression created by the media that Mudavadi left a vacuum after ditching ODM is not true. We are here as Raila’s foot soldiers and we will deliver votes for him,” he told a rally in Webuye.
ODM Bungoma County chairman Major Waluke said Raila’s tour has strengthened the party’s support.
“Those who thought Raila does not have support were shocked with the way he was received. He is still people’s choice and that is why we are supporting him,” said Waluke.
He added: “The coming on board of veteran politician Lawrence Sifuna shows how ODM is growing strong in the county.”
But sources within Mudavadi’s camp say he wants to disprove political detractors who claim he has not consolidated support in Western the way other presidential aspirants have done in their home bases.
“The Sabatia MP has realised the only threat in the region is the PM and that is why he is ensuring the PM does not destabilise him,” said an MP.
A decision by Otuoma to degazette nominated councillors who ditched ODM for UDF has sparked an uproar among Mudavadi’s supporters.
“I have submitted their names to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the decision is final,” said the Funyula MP. Shinyalu MP Justus Kizito said the move was aimed at silencing other leaders planning to decamp from ODM. “Raila saw for himself during the three-day tour last week that he no longer pulls the crowds he used to attract when Mudavadi was his point man,” said Chanzu.
He added: “In some rallies like the one held as Pan Paper grounds in Lugari, organisers were forced to get pupils from schools to attend the function to avoid embarrassing the PM.”
But Raila appears to be comfortable in Busia County, which he has used as his launching pad for support in the province. He appointed Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba the Sports minister and Otuoma to lucrative Local Government ministry previously held by Mudavadi.
Some disappointments
That means Raila banks on the county for his survival and battle with the DPM. Political pundits argue that Busia now has three Cabinet slots from ODM with holders of two coming from the same constituency.
Mr Namwamba and Regional Development Minister Fred Gumo, who is the MP for Westlands in Nairobi, hail from Budalang’i constituency.
Apart from Namwamba, Otuoma and Gumo, Butula MP Alfred Odhiambo and Assistant minister Sospeter Ojaamong have stood by Raila.
This makes Busia the only county in Western where the PM has solid support from four MPs.
The bagging of former Attorney General Amos Wako by Raila would be a boost to the PM’s bid to take charge of the county and the region.
The appointments generated heat from other counties. MPs from Kakamega County have argued he should have appointed Emuhaya MP Dr Wilber Otichillo from Vihiga County.
Otichillo has remained silent leaving his supporters guessing on which move he would make.
The PM has not given up on hunting for votes, as he remains the second option for most residents if Mudavadi would not be in the run off.
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